With the final full-fledged scrimmage done and the opener against Oklahoma looming in less than two weeks, the focus has changed to scout-team work and individual drills at Tulane's practices. The depth chart is pretty much set by this point, although games will change things because some players do not play like they practice.
After watching the second practice of the week this morning, here is my depth chart with analysis by position.
Quarterback
1) Michael Pratt
2) Justin Ibieta
Comment: No surprise here. Although Ibieta has better arm strength than Pratt, Pratt has done it in games and done it well and is an outstanding leader. He could lose the job if he struggles early in the year, but he won't lose if it he progresses in a normal fashion from the way he played last year. Ibieta, though, has proven that he is talented enough to take over if Pratt gets hurt or plays poorly. It is not clear yet how he would perform in games because he simply has not had that chance in a significant moment. Tanner Lee looked great in practice early in his career, and it never translated to games.
Running back
1) Cameron Carroll
2) Tyjae Spears
3) Devin Brumfield
4) Ygenio Booker
5) Iverson Celestine
Comment: All of them are getting reps against the scout-team defense, but this is how it broke down in preseason camp. Carroll will get the first chance against Oklahoma, followed by Spears and Brumfield. Booker is a wild card because he also can split out as a receiver and will do that frequently if healthy. Celestine likely will not play, but he looks good with the ball in his hands.
Wide receiver
Starters: Jha'Quan Jackson, Duece Watts, Shae Wyatt
Top backups: Phat Watts, Jaetavian Toles
Comment: Nothing matters less than which wideouts are on the field for the first snap because they rotate frequently and performance dictates how much they play the rest of the way. Phat Watts has been practicing ahead of his twin brother frequently, but based on proven production, I think this is the way they will lean. This group is considerably more accomplished than what Tulane started with last year, but drops have been a problem for everyone but Jackson (and maybe Toles). The battle for the sixth spot is wide open, with Ryan Thompson, T.J. Huggins and Bryce Bohanon the top candidates based on production. Really, though, Booker is ahead of all of them.
Tight end
1) Tyrick James
2) Will Wallace
3) Keitha Jones
4) Reggie Brown
Comment: All four are going to play, and I would not rule out a two-tight alignment at the start with James and Wallace. Keitha Jones has been surprisingly adept as a receiver in the preseason, and Brown had an outstanding stretch today after being hampered by an injury during camp. Drops are an issue here as well, though. They get open, but will they hold on to the ball when the opportunities come?
Offensive line
Starters: Joey Claybrook, Corey Dublin, Sincere Haynesworth, Caleb Thomas, Rashad Green
Backups: Cameron Jackel, Jackson Fort, Thomas, Josh Remetich, Timothy Shafter
Comment: The starters won't come off the field with the possible exception of Thomas for Remetich and maybe Green for Shafter occasionally. That's always how it works on the offensive line, and the difference between the starters and backups remains significant. Matt Lombardi could enter the picture, too. He was practicing with the 1s at the beginning of preseason camp before Green's move and a minor injury set him back.
Joker/Defensive end
Starters: Angelo Anderson and Jojo Dorceus
Backups: Darius Hodges and Keith Cooper
Also in picture: Carlos Hatcher and Armoni Dixon
Comment: I'm the least confident in my listings here. Cooper has been practicing with the first team the past two days ahead of Dorceus, and Hatcher was starting before an injury in the first scrimmage sidelined him. If Hatcher returns, he either will start or play a lot in the rotation. Will the coaches really trust a true freshman in Cooper to start against Oklahoma? Maybe. To be honest, although a few observers I trust have loved Dorceus, and Willie Fritz raved about him earlier in camp, I have not seen him make more plays than the other guys. Anderson has been the standout in my eyes, but this is a competitive group with a lot to prove and no clear pecking order yet.
Defensive tackle/Nose tackle
Starters: Eric Hicks and Jeffery Johnson
Backups: Adonis Friloux and Noah Seiden
Also in picture: Noah Taliancich and Alfred Thomas
Comment: This doesn't actually jibe with who is playing DT and who is playing NG, but it's the pecking order in terms of trust. A healthy Hicks and Johnson have been first team all preseason. Friloux has gotten first-team reps when Hicks sat out and is as close to a starter as you can get without being one. Seiden just makes plays, both in practice and scrimmages, although he's not really a nose tackle. Taliancich I'm not sure about after he missed almost all of his freshman year with an injury, but he certainly has promise.
Linebacker
Starters: Dorian Williams and Nick Anderson
Backups: Marvin Moody and Kevin Henry
Also playing: Jesus Machado
Comment: Today Moody and Henry ran with the first team like they did last year, but Williams and Anderson have been on that unit more often and are terrific playmakers. This is a a loaded group. Machado has a ton of potential but may not get many snaps because the four guys in front of him are so good.
Nickelback
1) Jadon Canady
2) D.J. Douglas
Comment: Canady has practiced almost exclusively with the first team the past two days and probably for longer than that. I did not know who he was when he wore the black numberless jersey the past two weeks. Douglas had an interception down the field today and will rotate in and may take over as the starter if Canady gets wide-eyed as a true freshman. Neither of them have played a significant down in a college game.
Cornerback
Starters: Jaylon Monroe and Lance Robinson
Top backup: Ajani Kerr
Next: Kiland Harrison and Reggie Neely
Comment: Kerr began preseason as the starting nickel but has lined up at cornerback the past two days, sometimes with the first team in place of Robinson. Monroe and Robinson will start, with Kerr rotating in. Kiland Harrison has been second team all preseason but has not done it in games. Remember, he was the starter for the few practices that occurred in the spring of 2020 before Kyle Meyers arrived from FSU (and man did that not work out), but the coaches did not think he was ready to play. He's a year older now, but I'm still not sure how much he is trusted. Kevaris Hall may enter the picture in a significant way when he becomes available.
Safety
Starters: Derrion Rakestraw and Macon Clark
Backups: Larry Brooks and Rudy Dyson
Comment: This is the way it will be at the start of the year. Clark was outstanding in the spring and has looked good again this preseason, taking the starting job from Brooks. Rakestraw is practicing ahead of Dyson. These guys are not as good as the linebackers, but Tulane definitely is four deep here. Before the bowl game two years ago, Fritz predicted Brooks would be an All-Conference player before his career was done, and now he's not even starting thanks to Clark's improvement.
Special teams
Ryan Wright is the punter, Merek Glover is the kicker, Wright is the holder, Ethan Hudak is the snapper and either Merek or brother Casey Glover will handle kickoffs
Casey Glover is the backup punter. The Wave does not want to find out who the backup kicker is, and I'm not sure after watching three guys get reps in scrimmages. Casey Glover is the backup holder.
After watching the second practice of the week this morning, here is my depth chart with analysis by position.
Quarterback
1) Michael Pratt
2) Justin Ibieta
Comment: No surprise here. Although Ibieta has better arm strength than Pratt, Pratt has done it in games and done it well and is an outstanding leader. He could lose the job if he struggles early in the year, but he won't lose if it he progresses in a normal fashion from the way he played last year. Ibieta, though, has proven that he is talented enough to take over if Pratt gets hurt or plays poorly. It is not clear yet how he would perform in games because he simply has not had that chance in a significant moment. Tanner Lee looked great in practice early in his career, and it never translated to games.
Running back
1) Cameron Carroll
2) Tyjae Spears
3) Devin Brumfield
4) Ygenio Booker
5) Iverson Celestine
Comment: All of them are getting reps against the scout-team defense, but this is how it broke down in preseason camp. Carroll will get the first chance against Oklahoma, followed by Spears and Brumfield. Booker is a wild card because he also can split out as a receiver and will do that frequently if healthy. Celestine likely will not play, but he looks good with the ball in his hands.
Wide receiver
Starters: Jha'Quan Jackson, Duece Watts, Shae Wyatt
Top backups: Phat Watts, Jaetavian Toles
Comment: Nothing matters less than which wideouts are on the field for the first snap because they rotate frequently and performance dictates how much they play the rest of the way. Phat Watts has been practicing ahead of his twin brother frequently, but based on proven production, I think this is the way they will lean. This group is considerably more accomplished than what Tulane started with last year, but drops have been a problem for everyone but Jackson (and maybe Toles). The battle for the sixth spot is wide open, with Ryan Thompson, T.J. Huggins and Bryce Bohanon the top candidates based on production. Really, though, Booker is ahead of all of them.
Tight end
1) Tyrick James
2) Will Wallace
3) Keitha Jones
4) Reggie Brown
Comment: All four are going to play, and I would not rule out a two-tight alignment at the start with James and Wallace. Keitha Jones has been surprisingly adept as a receiver in the preseason, and Brown had an outstanding stretch today after being hampered by an injury during camp. Drops are an issue here as well, though. They get open, but will they hold on to the ball when the opportunities come?
Offensive line
Starters: Joey Claybrook, Corey Dublin, Sincere Haynesworth, Caleb Thomas, Rashad Green
Backups: Cameron Jackel, Jackson Fort, Thomas, Josh Remetich, Timothy Shafter
Comment: The starters won't come off the field with the possible exception of Thomas for Remetich and maybe Green for Shafter occasionally. That's always how it works on the offensive line, and the difference between the starters and backups remains significant. Matt Lombardi could enter the picture, too. He was practicing with the 1s at the beginning of preseason camp before Green's move and a minor injury set him back.
Joker/Defensive end
Starters: Angelo Anderson and Jojo Dorceus
Backups: Darius Hodges and Keith Cooper
Also in picture: Carlos Hatcher and Armoni Dixon
Comment: I'm the least confident in my listings here. Cooper has been practicing with the first team the past two days ahead of Dorceus, and Hatcher was starting before an injury in the first scrimmage sidelined him. If Hatcher returns, he either will start or play a lot in the rotation. Will the coaches really trust a true freshman in Cooper to start against Oklahoma? Maybe. To be honest, although a few observers I trust have loved Dorceus, and Willie Fritz raved about him earlier in camp, I have not seen him make more plays than the other guys. Anderson has been the standout in my eyes, but this is a competitive group with a lot to prove and no clear pecking order yet.
Defensive tackle/Nose tackle
Starters: Eric Hicks and Jeffery Johnson
Backups: Adonis Friloux and Noah Seiden
Also in picture: Noah Taliancich and Alfred Thomas
Comment: This doesn't actually jibe with who is playing DT and who is playing NG, but it's the pecking order in terms of trust. A healthy Hicks and Johnson have been first team all preseason. Friloux has gotten first-team reps when Hicks sat out and is as close to a starter as you can get without being one. Seiden just makes plays, both in practice and scrimmages, although he's not really a nose tackle. Taliancich I'm not sure about after he missed almost all of his freshman year with an injury, but he certainly has promise.
Linebacker
Starters: Dorian Williams and Nick Anderson
Backups: Marvin Moody and Kevin Henry
Also playing: Jesus Machado
Comment: Today Moody and Henry ran with the first team like they did last year, but Williams and Anderson have been on that unit more often and are terrific playmakers. This is a a loaded group. Machado has a ton of potential but may not get many snaps because the four guys in front of him are so good.
Nickelback
1) Jadon Canady
2) D.J. Douglas
Comment: Canady has practiced almost exclusively with the first team the past two days and probably for longer than that. I did not know who he was when he wore the black numberless jersey the past two weeks. Douglas had an interception down the field today and will rotate in and may take over as the starter if Canady gets wide-eyed as a true freshman. Neither of them have played a significant down in a college game.
Cornerback
Starters: Jaylon Monroe and Lance Robinson
Top backup: Ajani Kerr
Next: Kiland Harrison and Reggie Neely
Comment: Kerr began preseason as the starting nickel but has lined up at cornerback the past two days, sometimes with the first team in place of Robinson. Monroe and Robinson will start, with Kerr rotating in. Kiland Harrison has been second team all preseason but has not done it in games. Remember, he was the starter for the few practices that occurred in the spring of 2020 before Kyle Meyers arrived from FSU (and man did that not work out), but the coaches did not think he was ready to play. He's a year older now, but I'm still not sure how much he is trusted. Kevaris Hall may enter the picture in a significant way when he becomes available.
Safety
Starters: Derrion Rakestraw and Macon Clark
Backups: Larry Brooks and Rudy Dyson
Comment: This is the way it will be at the start of the year. Clark was outstanding in the spring and has looked good again this preseason, taking the starting job from Brooks. Rakestraw is practicing ahead of Dyson. These guys are not as good as the linebackers, but Tulane definitely is four deep here. Before the bowl game two years ago, Fritz predicted Brooks would be an All-Conference player before his career was done, and now he's not even starting thanks to Clark's improvement.
Special teams
Ryan Wright is the punter, Merek Glover is the kicker, Wright is the holder, Ethan Hudak is the snapper and either Merek or brother Casey Glover will handle kickoffs
Casey Glover is the backup punter. The Wave does not want to find out who the backup kicker is, and I'm not sure after watching three guys get reps in scrimmages. Casey Glover is the backup holder.
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